NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASK. — The $407-million Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford (SHNB) is officially open. The facility replaced a 100-year-old psychiatric care facility and two correctional buildings.
“The grand opening of the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford represents the single largest investment in mental health services in the history of our province,” Premier Scott Moe said in a press release. “Our government is committed to providing better, more efficient mental health services for Saskatchewan residents, and the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford will ensure patients in Saskatchewan receive the care they need, when they need it.”
The hospital has 188 psychiatric rehabilitation beds as well as 96 secure beds for inmates with mental health problems. The facility has 32 more psychiatric rehabilitation beds than the old hospital.
“The new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford is among the most advanced mental health treatment centres in all of Canada,” said Health Minister Jim Reiter. “Its patient-focused design includes private rooms that are more spacious, natural lighting throughout the facility, and other features that make it an overall more therapeutic environment for patients in their journey through healing.”
The project was a collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Corrections and Policing and Central Services, along with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and SaskBuilds.
“The Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford offers an opportunity for our government to provide enhanced programming to offenders with mental health needs,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell added. “This facility will allow us to better address the needs of offenders in a therapeutic environment, and will allow for improved assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for offenders living with mental health challenges.”
The cost of the project included its construction as well as 30 years of maintenance under a public-private partnership (P3) agreement.
The province estimates by using a P3 rather than traditional procurement it saved $90 million.
In August 2018, Calgary-based Graham Capital Partners LP announced it had acquired and completed the purchase of Carillion Private Finance Limited’s share in the SHNB project, which the company was initially in a joint venture with.
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